Tension control means for cables



June 20, 1950 c pu-ro 2,512,010

TENSION CONTROL MEANS FOR CABLES Filed Dec. 11, 1946 jmrf x4. (IQ/ oro Patented June 20, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,512,010 TENSION CONTROL S FOR CABLES Dante A. Caputo, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 11, 1946, Serial No. 715,528

3 Claims. 1

My invention relates to tension control means for cables, and more particularly to means for controlling the tension on a cable, no matter to what the cable is attached, for the purpose of keeping it taut when in service, whether towing a plane, or a boat, or functioning as a hoist cable, it being understood that the cable runs from a drum or spool to the object to which it is connected, there being a tension spring interposed between the drum on which the cable is wound and the drive shaft to permit relative movement between the driving connection and the drum from which the cable runs.

One of the main objects of this invention is to provide a positive control means by which it is possible to maintain a definite tension on a cable under all conditions, Whether moving or at rest, said means operating automatically to maintain said tension.

In order to further explain my invention, I have illustrated one embodiment thereof on the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a drum or spool on which a cable can be wound, with my invention applied thereto to control the tension of the cable running therefrom to another object;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. l; and

Figure 5 is a detail showing the position of the gear elements in the position showing release escapement to permit relative movement between the drive shaft and the drum.

Referring in detail to the drawings, a spool or drum 6 is shown mounted on a shaft I, having a bearing support at one end at 8, and at its other end it is connected with a motor M, by which said shaft 1 and gear 9, mounted thereon, are driven.

Forming a part of said drum or spool '6, at the gear end of said shaft 1, is a housing ID, in the upper part of which is a chamber H, extended across said housing, as indicated, and in the opposite ends of a. middle tubular portion of said chamber are two coiled springs 12 and I 3, bearing on their inner ends on the opposite ends of a cylindrical member l4, movably connected with the gear 9 through a segmental gear element 15, secured to a cross plate 2|. This segmental gear element I5 is connected through an opening l4 in the floor ll of the chamber ll, whereby said cylindrical member l4, said cross plate 2! and said segmental gear element can be moved back and forth under the tension of said springs as the tension between the drum, on which the cable is wound, and the gear 9 on the shaft 1 is increased, thus permitting certain relative movement under increased load, controlled by said springs.

Movably mounted on the floor I l of the chamber H, is a double cam block [6, having the two inclined cam surfaces l1 and I8, and between which extends a switch-operating stem or member l9, from an electric control switch box 20, for controlling the motor M. Said cam block I6 is mounted on the cross plate 2|, which is slidably connected to the floor l I by means of small bolts, as 22, 22, through slots, as 23, 23, in the floor I l', as illustrated on Figs. 1 and 4.

Thus it will be seen that the drive shaft 1, driven by the motor M, has the gear 9 secured thereto, while the spool or drum 6, on which the cable is wound, has connected with it, through the housing ID, the segment gear element 15, shown in mesh in Figs. 2 and 3, and that when there is suiilcient strain to overcome the tension of the springs I2 or I 3, said segment gear will be moved, as illustrated in Fig. 5, which will permit an escapement of the gear 9, until the tension is reduced to the place where the springs H or l3 will return the segment gear l5 back into full mesh with the gear 9.

My invention, broadly considered, is the provision of driving connections between a drive shaft and a cable drum or spool thereon, including spring tension means, whereby increased load on the cable and drum will automatically cause a release or escapement of said connections sufliciently to relieve the strain on the cable and drum, and at the same time automatically operate the switch to the motor which furnishes the driving power to the shaft, thus making for safety and at the same time providing means for controlling the tension of the cable at all times.

While I have shown and described one practical embodiment of my invention, I am aware that changes in the details of construction and arrangement can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not, therefore, limit the invention to these details, except as I may be limited by the hereto appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a tension control mechanism, the combination with: a power shaft to be driven, a cable drum revolubly mounted thereon, a gear secured to said power shaft to be driven therewith, said cable drum having a housing formed thereon over said gear; of a releasable drive connection between said cable drum housing and said gear and including a gear segment movably mounted on said housing and in mesh with said gear and movable across said gear to disengage it therefrom, whereby to release said cable drum from said gear, tension springs normally holding said gear segment yieldingl in mesh with said gear and permitting its movement out of mesh therewith when tension is increased.

2. In a tension control mechanism, the combination with: a power shaft to be driven, a, cable drum revolubly mounted thereon, a gear secured on said power shaft to be driven therewith, said cable drum having a housing at one end over said i gear, of a releasable drive connection between said cable drum housing and said gear and including a gear segment movably mounted in said housing and in mesh with said gear, a coiled spring normally holding said gear segment in mesh with said gear, said spring taking the trarismission tension between said gear segment and said housing and cable drum, whereby overload on said cable drum moves said gear segment 2 against the tension of said spring out of mesh with said gear and permits release of said cable drum under overload.

3. An overload release device including, in combination with a power shaft to be driven, a cable drum revolubly mounted thereon, and a drive gear on said shaft adjacent said cable drum, of a housing on said cable drum over said gear, a gear segment movably held in said housing to turn therewith in locked intermesh with said gear, two springs operating on the opposite sides of said gear segment normally holding it in mesh with said gear and taking'the transmission tension from said gear to said housing and said cable drum, whereby increased load on said cable drum operates to move said gear segment away from said gear and releases said cable drum un der overload.

DANTE A. CAPUTO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Clarke Apr. 25, 

